KATE Garraway is in “survival mode” as she faces a debt of up to £800k for Derek Draper’s care after her husband’s death.
Kate’s much-loved partner Derek tragically died on January 5 following a four-year battle with Covid.
He was hospitalised after contracting Covid in March 2020 and suffering numerous health complications.
But despite needing round-the-clock care, Derek was not eligible for funding, which left Kate to incur debts to ensure he had the help he needed.
In a new interview with The Times, Kate estimates the care debt to be between £500,000 and £800,000.
The heartbroken 56-year-old said: “Derek’s needs were clearly so great, yet he didn’t warrant funded care — so you think, “If he isn’t getting it, then who is?”
“To be fair to them, no one’s contacted me since he’s passed away to ask for that. They may well still do, but they haven’t as yet.
“The bigger picture of the further appeals I haven’t addressed yet, because I’m still in survival mode.”
Speaking about the huge amounts she forked out, Kate continued: “It’s supposed to be a system that’s meant to catch you if you fall.
“But actually, it feels like it’s trying to catch you out. You feel like you’re in the dock answering questions about things that will literally mean life or death to someone you love.”
Before he died, Kate already owed debts above £700,000, which were incurred by his psychotherapeutic company’s failure, with Kate possessing no legal authority to administer his business affairs when he became unwell.
Kate also shared some insight into her last interactions with Derek and noted that his health seemed to be improving.
She added: “We were in a very different place, health-wise, from the year before – and it felt like the happiest place.
“We had more of Derek back. We always knew his injuries could take him, but it all felt so positive at that point, it was the furthest from my mind that anything could happen.”
However, Derek suffered a cardiac arrest while staying at a brain cell clinic in Mexico as Garraway was mid-flight to collect him.
Though doctors were able to restart his heart, he never regained consciousness and “slipped away” on 3 January.
Next week Kate will front a programme detailing the final year of Derek’s life, after he died at 56 following a four-year battle with Covid.
Garraway said that she went ahead with completing the documentary after his death as a way to honour the wishes of the thousands of carers who have asked her to continue campaigning for change.
“I can’t just abandon this because Derek no longer needs it,” she said.
In March 2020, Derek was rushed to hospital due to a Covid infection, which sparked years of heartbreaking health battles.
After being taken to hospital, Derek spent 214 days on a ventilator, nearly four months in an induced coma and lost eight stone, as well as his ability to speak properly.
After he moved back home in April 2021, Derek required round the clock care and was rushed back to hospital with “life-threatening” sepsis in August the following year.
Following this, Derek was struck down with more ill health.
In December 2023, Kate was by her husband’s side once more after he suffered a huge heart attack.
